I really like it out here. It’s beautiful, the weather is great and we live close enough to enjoy both hills and water. We have everything we’re accustomed to and can communicate easily with our neighbors (those were issues making living in Norway difficult). We have a great home. The issues now are finding a good place for Sara Ellen to spend a year at preschool before heading to kindergarten and developing close friendship nearer to home.

I was having a difficult time with the school search, and have since handed over the job to Tim. He has a list of places to check out but we’re not a whole lot closer yet. I’d love her to go. I know she’ll love it, hopefully making friends there, enjoying the “work”, and have time in her own world (with peers, other adults, and no baby sister). I worried what would happen if it didn’t work out and came to decide that we’d manage as we have for the last year. Of course we’ll do what we can to get in her in, but to save my sanity, I have to give myself that freedom. Sara Ellen and I have been exploring letters and numbers in and out of workbooks. She quite enjoys them, though at times I have to close my eyes and breathe, to recapture my patience. It’s frustrating for me sometimes, wanting her to figure something out, and I have to remember she’s amazing and she figures it out in her own time. I would love to be the super-creative person that always has a great project for her to do, but I’m not really. We’ve been coloring a lot, painting now and then, and drawing with chalk on her easel or in our back garden. She loves to do “dot-to-dot”, though she tends to connect and then leave the picture without coloring. I’ve been encouraging her to finish it. I enjoy coloring, so this is something I really like to do with her. She’s not one to play with dolls much, but she does still use her trains, lego duplos, and farm with animals, making up scenarios as she goes along. It’s a lot of fun to listen to. She also likes singing along with familiar tunes. Recently she’s been singing to the tune but instead of the lyrics, she inserts words that go with the situation. She loves almost anything that gets her moving, gym class, dancing, “red light, green light” (we added even more color cues). She loves to run, play baseball, kick a soccer ball, anything really. We recently started bowling and mini-golf and she loves those too.

Sara Ellen makes friends where ever we go, she’s very social. She might start out shy, but that disappears pretty quickly. We’ve met lots of lovely mothers and children, but I am really, really missing my girlfriends. I can’t say just “back home” though several are spread through Maryland, because my best friend is in Virginia, and another in South Carolina. Then there are many Macon Women throughout the country. I really miss those times of sitting and having fun, or having talks about whatever, serious and fun. There are many times I miss Macon life. That kind of atmosphere really helps friendships along. I know my mother has made many of her best friends as an adult by becoming a La Leche League leader. I’m not sure what else I can do, but that’s what I’m craving. I know that both Tim and Sara Ellen want that too, someone to love being with as near to everyday as we can get. I love the family life that I have, spending time together at home or traveling. We just need some dear friends to share ourselves with. My request for these relationships is among my fervent prayers, including those for the growth and timely birth of Baby #2, and for the healing of bodies and hearts for friends and family members. Where can I find a kindred spirit, a bosom friend?

Liz Sundby c/o 2000 married Kevin Hass in 1999. They have Sydney and Savannah.
Sarah-Anne Laster c/o 2004 married Stan Kielczewski in 2004. Baby Sebastian was born Jan 2008.
Kristen Ollock c/o 2001 married Brian Tyler in 2004.
Tracy Earley c/o 2004 married Jay Proffitt in 2004. Adilee Jo was born Apr/2008.
Rebekah Myers c/o 2002 married Joseph Baljet in 2004. They have Katherine 08/05 and Gabriella 01/07.
Devon Kennedy c/o 2004 married Rich Connaroe in 2004. They have Lucas, born 2/07 and Meredith Brooke born 4/08.
Myself c/o 2003 married Tim Altman in 2004. We have Sara Ellen, born 12/05.
Dalia Ortega c/o 2003 (my first roommate – transfered out) married Artie Catalano in 2004. Alessandra Veronica was born 1/13/08.
Sara Caswell c/o 2004 married Nathan Draughn in 2006.
Katie Smith c/o 2005 married Pete Flynn.
Allison Sterrett c/o 2003 married Joe Krause.
Ana DeLeon c/o 2003 (transferred out in 2000) married.
Alanna Valdez c/o 2003 married Armon Taylor Jan 2, 2008!

Preserve Educational Choice
P.O. Box 29612
Richmond, VA 23242
Mark “Art Defense Fund”

The best part of the letter in my opinion is the list of Helen’s credentials. She is a small but intimidating woman, and I have always been in awe of who she is and what she has done.

Helen McGehee, R-MWC class of 1942
Principal dancer Martha Graham Dance Company 1942 – 1971. Helen met Martha when she performed at R-MWC in Smith Hall Theater!
Founding faculty member Juilliard Dance Division 1953 – 1982
Founder of R-MWC Visiting Artist Program in Dance 1971. Dance friends at other schools are part of amazing dance departments/divisions but I am so thankful to have been a part of our department. Working with so many wonderful artists provided such a range of experience.
Professor of Dance 1971 – 1986

From my perspective, not being on campus, I can kind of pretend it’s not happening. There’s a reunion next year in late May/June. I think I’ll finally be going, for the first time, because I know that Bekah (Myers) Baljet is going with her sweet family. I can’t wait to see her girls!

On a happier note, I found an awesome lasange recipe where I don’t have to precook the noodles. Wahoo. I also made cranberry muffins, yummy with vanilla ice cream.

Soon after arriving at our abode for the weekend, Brooke Mueller’s home, Sara and Nathan Draughn arrived and we visited before getting dinner at Applebee’s. Afterwards, Sara and I got beautified and headed out on a girl’s night for the concert. I had hoped to see Thursday and Friday but realized Sara Ellen might not take to being alone with Sara and Nathan without Mom and Dad if we went on a date Friday night.

Being on campus felt like coming home. I had read the College sign has been changed already (what happened to JULY 2007?!) and happily I did not see it, so everything looked the same. We saw Erin Prokopchak, Tracy Profitt, Meaghan Vincie, and Becky Jung. Sara and I sat with Erin. It was a lot of fun filling Sara in on what was happening, and reminicing with Erin. The first piece was Rhythm of the Night, a funny dance for which I served as rehearsal director for it’s 2002 performance. Third was Moonblind ABC, a pilobolus piece I had learned in class. It was first performed at Macon in 2005, the only concert I’ve missed. Delia’s ballet was a moderny Asian piece in pants. I wasn’t hugely fond of it. The Jump Rhythm piece was an excerpt from Released in their own Custody. I still don’t know how jazz has been integrated into the schedule now that Kelly Malone Dudley lives in town. It was a very enjoyable piece. It brought back memories of doing a couple pieces myself. For a while I was truly JAZZED by jrjp, I felt such joy while dancing and watching it. I auditioned in 2004 but my life has taken wonderful turns. Diane Gray’s piece was, as usual, the show stopper. It had such a familiar core, but a different feel as she seems to accomplish each year. This one however, seemed simpler than previous years. Last year was to music from the Triplets of Belleville and so funny. This one was lighthearted, and I enjoyed watching it but it didn’t have as much of a story as years past. There were other professional pieces, two by choreographers I don’t know. Though I can recall them still, neither was striking. One was religious, called Amen, excerpted from an unnamed dance. It was a little confusing but when it changed music it started to hold my interest. Numerous dancers took part, all in simple red dresses. Doug Hamby and Walter Kennedy contributed again. Previously, their dances have been quirky and inventive. These I did not get much from.

There were seven dance majors this year! I think I met one of the ladies senior year when she was a prospective student. Her piece was called Playful. The program said that inside every man has playfulness waiting to come out. One had Jane Austen quoted in the program, saying that all people take their own time to find their unique path of devotion. Two girls portrayed what I guess was a religious struggle – I didn’t get much. One played well with light and shadows. Another, called Entropy, used two pieces of music, the second of which was much more interesting than the first. Those dancers were very talented and stood out in other pieces. I was really happy to remember opening night features a reception following the performance. I found Pam there.

On the way home, I planned out the next day – have lunch on campus, walk around, go to the Macon Bookstore, take Becky’s class. Before I fell asleep I decided against lunch on campus. Friday after shopping and lunch, I decided against taking class. I was tired and didn’t feel like doing improv. We just went to the bookstore. They are already selling RC apparel but I learned R-MWC apparel will remain available! I got a new hoodie, white terry with blue print on sale and a new key chain. We were rung up by Shirley, one of the dining hall ladies. She recognized us and we had a nice visit.

Back at Sara’s we relaxed and watched a movie while Sara Ellen napped (having fallen asleep in the car 3 minutes into our drive). Then we took some games with us and went home. I made dinner and we all played Cranium and had a really nice night. After Sara and Nathan won we used the “cameo” cards for impromtu charades, that was the best part. It was almost 10 pm by then so I tried to put Sara Ellen in bed but she was too wound up. We joined the others for dessert and she entertained us all with peek-a-boo and dancing.

We headed home around 11:30 Saturday morning, picking up Sonic for lunch. I managed to stay in the front seat while Sara Ellen fell asleep. I got some photos of the horendous LU sign on the side of what might be Candler’s Mountain (you see it in that direction).

It wasn’t quite the weekend I expected but it was nice, especially having a home to ourselves for a few days. I don’t think I’m denying the changes taking places at school but it felt great to be there. I hope I can feel as good visiting in the future.

Pictures

Applications way up as Randolph-Macon prepares to go coed

I wonder if they will keep the URL the same. I looked up RC.edu and Randolph.edu, both are taken, they are Rochester College and Randolph Community College.

I still makes me sad. I hope as it changes, it remains a College I can still support. I don’t want to feel alma mater-less.

It was announced today in various forms, including on the steps of Main Hall on campus. I wasn’t there because we had a great big birthday party for Sara Ellen (more later).

Here is text from the letter I received by email
- -
The Board of Trustees, after adopting the new Strategic Plan in September, established a task force to help select a new name for the College.

The 12-member Naming Advisory Task Force, comprising alumnae, faculty, students, trustees, and staff, solicited input from the entire Randolph-Macon Woman’s College community and received more than a thousand suggestions.

Recently, the Board of Trustees convened to consider the group’s recommendations. The overwhelming desire of all constituencies to preserve a part of our historic name influenced our decision greatly.

The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt the name Randolph College. We feel, as so many of you do, that this name preserves and honors our legacy, maintains continuity with our storied past, and positions us well for the future.

While the new name will not become official until the beginning of our fiscal year, July 1, 2007, we will use it in admissions communications as we recruit next year’s first-year class.
- –

I am reasonably happy with this decision. I knew they couldn’t (and probably shouldn’t) use R-M but using Randolph does recognize where the College has come from. Though I’m unhappy about the change, I hope it continues to do well and get better.

Christine, Surayyah, and I went to the Warner Theatre in DC to see Pilobolus perform their 35th Anniversary Celebration.

Christine drove to my house from Wilmington and I drove us into the city. Driving in DC can make me very nervous but we had *plenty* of time and I wasn’t alone, huge help. There was a little detouring but we drove down the street the theater was on and parked in a garage (actually, it was valet) right there. There was also a Starbucks there too where we had our chai and waited for Surayyah.

We hung out and chatted about school for a while and headed across the street, bypassing the line for the box office and heading straight to our seats. The theater is pretty, we guessed from the 1920’s or so by it’s decor. They started relatively on time and from our high seats we had a good view of it all. Higher seats are better when it comes to seeing floor patterns. The pieces were unique from eachother so it was a great variety. I didn’t have a favorite piece, but the last one was really cool. All rock music, with crazy flying/falling. It used a mat on the floor. There was another, a duet. The man and woman started as and old couple and evolved into what I saw as different relationship phases and back to old age. It was cool, funny, and cute. We all agreed that Pilobulous has evolved from their more gymnastic, less dancy roots, becoming a famous modern dance company. Hopefully they’ll keep their roots in mind as they evolve. It’s still great.

It gave me so much motivation for dancing, for choreograhing the dance Emily and I will do at church on November 19th (9 and 11am). It also reinstilled my desire to be near a dance hub where I can keep growing and being closer to performing opportunities. I was bouncing when we left.

The drive home was almost as relatively easy as coming in, except for one significant difference, the lights didn’t come on automatically. I think the garage attendant turned them off manually and as I had not driven the car (my dad’s snazzy Acura) at night, I didn’t think to check for them. Driving through the city I could see just fine but another driver on New York Avenue let me know they were off. I didn’t know how to turn them on so I quickly restarted the car. When we got on the highway there was no light in front of me, they still weren’t on somehow, sheesh.

Tim and Sara Ellen visited his dad tonight and left around 4:30. I got home after 11. That’s probably the longest I’ve been away. Tim said she did ok and she giggled when she saw me. She’s so cute. She’s still happly toddling around (12:00 am), though she’s heading up the stairs…. Here I go too.

In late May 2004, we were going to pick up lunch on the way home from my brother’s baseball game. I called home to get Mom’s order and she picked up crying. I don’t remember her saying anything but I exclaimed “Oh my God” and rushed home. Tim called my cell phone and I couldn’t speak. On arriving home, we found out Gammy was still alive but her doctor had given the news she had little time left. Tim later came over for comfort and to doing something and get out of the house we went to a movie. About a month later, after giving Gammy a wedding invitation and trying on first Mom’s and then my own wedding dress, she did die. When Mom called me at work with the news, I felt very dull. The funeral was two weeks later. We all cried, but as Gammy would have wanted, we did not wear black and we had a good time at the reception, bidding family well until our September wedding. I think of her frequently and miss her so much. I am thankful there is new life in our family but wish they could have met each other.

I found out last November (2005) that a study was being done to see if going coed would be a profitable option for Randolph-Macon Woman’s College. If you read the entry from that day you might see I was already feeling the anger and loss. I have since visited the College for a dance concert and now that the decision has been made, I feel I’d like to visit a few times before Fall 2007 when men will be welcome as students.

I visited with Sara yesterday and we talked about the spirit which we believe is what students and alumnae love so much. Going over memories and such, I almost feel homeless, not knowing what will have change when I go back.